PRAGUE, 9 April 2004 (RFE/RL) -- More than 10,000 Armenians demanding the resignation of their president defied a ban and demonstrated in the capital Yerevan today.

The protesters at the rally organized by two opposition parties called for a referendum on President Robert Kocharian's rule.

After a similar opposition rally on 5 April, government officials issued a ban against demonstrating today. Viktor Dalakyan, a member of the Justice party, said opposition supporters will continue demonstrating until Kocharian leaves office.

But three Armenian ruling parties today rejected the opposition demand to discuss the issue of the referendum in the parliament.

Kocharian was re-elected in March 2003 in a poll the opposition claims was rigged.